Washing machine agitator with adjustable vanes



Sept. 17, 1968 c. PLATT ETAL WASHING MACHINE AGITATOR WITH ADJUSTABLE VANES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 10, 1966 w s m w w u m a mv uw p 45 J {N0 em 1 1. 66%, a 9

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Sept. 17, 1968 c. l. PLATT ET AL 3,401,540

WASHING MACHINE AGITATOR WITH ADJUSTABLE VANES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct, 10, 1966 [NVENTORS 242K I. PLATT [Z/Fro/v 4. C065 K97 D. 54L/saaer 0 N w g l 2 ATTREYS Patented Sept. 17, 1968 3,401,540 WASHING MACHINE AGITATOR WITH ADJUSTABLE VANES Clark I. Platt, Benton Harbor, and Clifton A. Cobb and Keith D. Salisbury, St. Joseph, Mich., assignors to Whirlpool Corporation, Benton Harbor, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 10, 1966, Ser. No. 585,494 16 Claims. (Cl. 68--134) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An adjustable vane agitator assembly including an agitator shell rotatable on an axis, radially movable agitator vanes supported on the shell, biasing means including spring members urging the vanes radially inwardly and follower arms connected respectively to the vanes and movable axially in response to radial movement of the vanes. An adjustment cap is mounted on the agitator shell in axial alignment with the follower arms to pro vide a stop for the follower arms against the bias of the spring members. The cap is axially adjustable for selectively adjusting the radial positions of the vanes simultaneously to vary the agitation characteristics of the agitator assembly.

This invention relates generally to Washing machines and more particularly to a washin machine having a rotatable agitator assembly equipped with one or more adjustable agitation vanes whereby the degree of agitation to which the laundry liquid and fabrics are subjected can be varied and controlled.

An object of the invention is to provide an adjustable agitation vane movable between limiting positions of adjustment and spring biased toward one of the limiting positions.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means for moving an adjustable vane in a radial direction with respect to the axis of rotation of the agitator in response to axial movement of a vane adjustment mechanism.

A further object of the invention is to provide plural adjustable vanes all of which are spring biased in one direction of adjustment and the adjustment of all of which is controlled by a single adjustment control.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved adjustment means for movable vanes of a washing machine agitator.

Another object of the invention is to provide an adjustment mechanism for the movable vanes which is simple in construction, trouble free in operation and which can serve a long useful life.

A further object of the invention is to provide an agitator assembly with movable vanes and an adjustment mechanism arranged such that movement of an adjustment cap a given distance in an axial direction will result in the movement of the vane in a radial direction a distance greater than said given distance.

Many other features, advantages and additional objects of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description which follows and the accompanying sheets of drawings, in which preferred structural embodiments incorporating the principles of the present invention are shown by way of illustrative example only.

On the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical elevational view of a washing machine constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention with portions of various wall members cut away and other parts shown in section to reveal the relative disposition of various parts of the agitator;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view of the agitator assembly of the machine of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view ofdthe agitator taken along lines III-III of FIGURE 2; an

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view of an adjustment indicator of the invention.

As shown on the drawings:

Although the principles of the present invention are applicable to a variety of agitation and washing mechanisms a particularly useful application is made to household washing machines of the agitator type. An illustrative embodiment of such a washing machine having a vertically disposed agitator and constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention is shown in FIGURE 1 and indicated generally at reference numeral 10.

Some of the principal parts of the washing machine 10 include an outer cabinet 11 having a plurality of level ing legs 12 mounted respectively at the four corners of a bottom wall 13 for supporting the machine on a floor or other suitable support member. A hinged door 14 is provided for gaining access into the interior of the machine 10 through a top wall 16 thereof having an access opening formed therein.

Situated within the washing machine 10 at about the elevational midpoint is a horizontal support wall 17 se curely fastened to the walls of the cabinet 11 in order to support a vertically upstanding cylindrically shaped imperforate tub 18. The lower end of the tub 18 is closed by a bottom wall 19 which includes a central portion 20 shaped conically and extending upwardly toward an apex situated on the longitudinal axis of the tub 18.

The upper end of the tub 18 is open and disposed therewithin is a complementarily shaped but somewhat smaller perforate receptacle or basket 21. A bottom wall 22 of the basket 21 is situated in spaced relation to the bottom wall 19 of the tub 18 and includes a central portion 23 which extends in generally parallel relation to the central portion 20 of the tub wall 19.

The upper end of the basket 21 is also open in order to receive material to be laundered through the top wall 16 of the cabinet 11. During a washing operation the tub 18 receives a quantity of laundry liquid as well as detergents, additives and the like which may be desired. A shroud 24 overlies the upper ends of the tub 18 and of the basket 21 to facilitate loading and unloading of the basket.

During a washing operation the material to be laundered is immersed in the laundry liquid and subjected to a washing action which results from the rapid and tur- 3 bulent agitation of the material and the laundry liquid within the basket 21.

Such agitation is conferred by an agitator assembly 26 which is disposed within the basket 21 and which, during a washing operation, rotates or oscillates about a vertical axis to impart a scrubbing and rollover action to the material and turbulence to the laundry liquid.

The agitator assembly 26 is rotated or oscillated by a vertical drive shaft 27 which extends upwardly from a lower portion of the washing machine 10 through a central aperture 28 formed in the horizontal support wall 17 and into an upstanding cylindrical sleeve 29 which extends upwardly from the conical portion 23 of the basket 21. The lower end of the drive shaft 27 is connected to a suitable oscillating mechanism which may preferably be driven by an electric motor.

Referring to the enlarged views in FIGURES 2 and 3, the agitator assembly 26 is more particularly characterized as comprising an agitator shell 30 which is slipped downwardly in surrounding relation over the drive shaft 27 and the sleeve 29. A reduced diameter upper end portion 31 of the agitator shell 30 is centrally apertured as at 32, which aperture is splined so as to receive a splined upper end 33 of the drive shaft 27 in driving relation. The agitator shell 30 is securely fastened to the drive shaft 27 by means of a suitable fastener such as a threaded bolt indicated at reference numeral 34.

A bottom end 36 of the agitator shell 30 is open to receive the sleeve 29, and extending radially outwardly and downwardly therefrom is a skirt 37 formed integrally therewith and situated in substantially parallel relation to the conical portion 23 of the basket bottom wall 22.

The actual agitation of the fabric or other material to be laundered and the laundry liquid is accomplished by one or more agitation vanes which project radially outwardly from the agitator shell 30. The number of agitation vanes may vary and in the exemplary embodiment herein shown there are three vanes spaced 120 circumferentia'lly around the agitator shell 30.

In the drawings the vanes are all identical and are indicated respectively at reference numerals 38. Each of the vanes 38 comprises a flat or disc-shaped structure which is relatively thin in horizontal cross-section and which is shaped in a front elevational view in the form of a parallelogram having front and back sides 39 and 40 and top and bottom sides 41 and 42 which are parallel to each other and which slope radially outwardly and downwardly in parallel relation to the skirt 37 formed at the bottom of the agitator shell 30.

The vanes 38 are separate, individual structures made of either rigid material such as molded plastic or of elastic or resilient material such as rubber or polyethylene or polypropylene or synthetic rubber material. The bottom side 42 of each of the vanes 38 is supported on and movable with respect to the skirt 37 of the agitator shell 30.

In order to maintain the vanes 38 in an upstanding position, a plurality of guides 43 are formed on the periphery of the agitator shell 30. Each of the guides 43 comprises a pair of horizontally spaced vertical side walls 44 and 46 which extend upwardly from the skirt 37 and a top wall 47 which slopes radially and downwardly from the agitator shell 30 in parallel relation to the skirt 37.

An outer end 48 of each of the guides 43 is open to receive one of the vanes 38, and thus each of the guides 43 forms a guide way into which its corresponding vane 38 can easily slide, being supported from below by the skirt 37.

In FIGURE 2 the vane 38 is shown in full lines in an extended poistion with respect to the guide 43, that is, with the radially outermost end 39 of the vane 38 protruding substantially beyond the outermost end wall 48 of the guide 43. The vane 38 is shown in dashed lines in its retracted poistion, that is, with the inner side 49 thereof in proximate spaced relation to the sleeve 29.

In the retracted positions of the vanes 38 the outermost ends 39 thereof extend just beyond the outer ends 48 of the guides 43. The corners of the vanes 38 as well as of the sides 44 and 46 of the guides 43 are somewhat arcuately shaped to prevent damage to the fabric or the like being agitated.

The guides 43 extend radially outwardly from the agitator shell 36 a distance which is almost equal to the corresponding radial length of the vanes 38 such that when the vanes 38 are in a fully retracted position the agitating effect is accomplished almost entirely by the guides 43 themselves. Thus the guides 43 may be characterized as fixed or stationary agitation vanes as contrasted with the movable vanes 38.

It will be appreciated that other guide means may be substituted for the fixed vanes 43 for radially guiding the movable vanes 38, but in the embodiment illustrated the guide means also serve themselves as stationary agitation vanes and the movable vanes 38 actually serve as extensions of the stationary vanes 43.

The radial disposition of the movable vanes 38 determines the degree of agitation to which the laundry liquid and fabric material is subjected, assuming a constant oscilla'ting or rotating speed of the agitator assembly 26. If the movable vanes 38 are retracted as far as possible the agitation action is relatively subdued or gentle. However, when the movable vanes 38 are extended as far as possible the agitation action is appreciably more vigorous. Thus by adjusting the radial disposition of the movable vanes 38, the agitation action can be varied from gentle to vigorous.

In accordance with the principles of this invention the radial disposition of all of the movable vanes 38 can be simply and quickly adjusted simultaneously and in equal incremental amounts by the operator of the washing machine by means of a conveniently located easily actuated adjustment mechanism or controller.

The movable vane adjustment mechanism comprises a plurality of bellcrank assemblies indicated generally at reference numerals 49 corresponding in number to the number of movable vanes 38 and mounted for pivotal movement on the agitator shell 30 in driving relation with a corresponding movable vane 38.

Accordingly, each of the bell crank assemblies 49 comprises a bell crank 50 disposed within a stationary vane 43 and journalled for free rotation on a pivot pin 51. The pivot pin 51 extends axially at right angles to the axis of rotation of the agitator shell 30 and is mounted at opposite ends on the side walls 44 and 46 of the stationary vane 43. Thus the bell crank 50 is permitted to pivot in a plane which intersects the axis of the agitator shell 30.

One leg 52 of the bell crank 50 extends toward the movable vane 38 and has an elongated slot 53 formed therein near the distal end thereof to receive a slightly undersized follower pin 54 projecting from one side of the movable vane 38.

Another leg 56 of the bell crank 50 is shorter than leg 52 and extends at an angle therefrom toward the axis of the agitator shell 30. An elongated rod-like follower arm 57 extends axially upwardly between the sleeve 29 and a peripheral wall 58 of the agitator shell 30 and is pivotally connected at a lower end 59 thereof to the short leg 56 of the bell crank 50 by means of a pin 60.

It will thus be observed that as the bell crank 50 rocks or pivots back and forth about the pivot pin 51 the movable vane 38 is moved correspondingly radially inwardly and outwardly of the stationary vane 43. The cooperating driving connection comprising the slot 53 and the follower pin 54 accommodates the differences between the pivotal movement of the bell crank 50 and the rectilinear movement of the movable vane 38.

In order to provide more positive control the movable vane 38 is continuously biased by means including a torsion spring 61 to one of its limiting positions of adjustment which, in the embodiment illustrated, is the fully retracted position. The spring 61 is also housed in the stationary vane 43 and is coiled around the pivot pin 51. One end 62 of the spring 61 abuts the underside of the top wall 47 of the stationary vane 43 while an opposite end 63 abuts the underside of pin 60.

Thus the movable vane 38 is constantly biased radially inwardly and the follower arm 57 is constantly biased axially upwardly.

In order to selectively control the positioning of the movable vanes 38, an adjustment cap 64 is threaded on the upper end 31 of the agitator shell 30. A radial wall 66 is formed within a shroud 67 at the lower end of the cap 64 and serves an as abutment wall or stop for each of the follower arms 57, an upper end 68 of each of which is constantly biased into abutting engagement therewith by the torsion springs 61.

lThLlS, as the adjustment cap 64 is threaded downwardly on the agitator shell 30 the adjustable vanes 38 are moved radially outwardly toward their fully extended position. When the adjustment cap 64 is threaded in an opposite direction the vanes 38 are biased toward their retracted positions.

In order to provide a visual indication of the appropriate direction of rotation of the adjustment cap 64 a medallion or the like disc-shaped member as indicated at reference numeral 69 in FIGURE 4 having suitable indicia thereon may be mounted on a top surface 70 of the adjustment cap 64.

Thus described, it will be understood that the invention comprises an agitator assembly for a washing machine including a rotatable agitator shell, agitation vanes or vane extensions carried on the shell and movable between limiting positions of adjustment, biasing means for constantly biasing the movable vanes toward one of the positions of adjustment, an adjustable stop means for selectively adjusting the spacing of the movable vanes from one of such limiting positions. The adjustment mechanism comprises an axially movable adjustment cap and a cooperating linkage interposed between the adjustment cap and the movable vanes and comprising a spring biased bell crank and follower arm biased against the adjustment cap to ensure positive control in the adjustment of the movable vanes.

Although minor modifications might be suggested by those versed in the art, it should be understood that we wish to embody within the scope of the patent warranted hereon all such modifications as reasonably come within the scope of our contribution to the art.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. An agitator assembly for a washing machine comp g,

a rotatable agitator shell having an axis of rotation,

an agitator vane carried on said agitator shell and movable radially between first and second positions,

biasing means including a spring for biasing said vane toward one of said positions,

follower means operatively connected to said vane and carried on said agitator shell for axial movement in response to radial movement of said vane, and

axially adjustable stop means mounted on said agitator shell and in abutting engagement with said follower means for positioning said follower means against the bias of said spring and for selectively adjusting the spacing of said vane from said one of said positions.

2. The agitator asesmbly as defined in claim 1 wherein said one of said positions is situated radially inwardly of the other of said positions with respect to said agitator shell.

3. The agitator assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said adjustable stop means comprises an adjustment cap selectively axially positionable with respect to said agitator shell.

4. The agitator assembly as defined in claim 3 and ineluding additional ones of said spring biased vanes and additional ones of said follower means operatively connected to said vanes and in abutting engagement with said adjustment cap for simultaneous adjustment of the spacing of all of said vanes in response to axial adjustment of said adjustment cap.

5. The agitator assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said biasing means comprises a torsion spring mounted on said agitator shell and operatively interposed between said agitator vane and said follower means.

6. The agitator assembly as defined in claim 5 wherein said biasing means further comprises,

a bell crank, and

a pin mounted on said agitator shell at right angles to the axis of said agitator shell and mounting said bell crank for pivotal movement thereabout between first and second positions thereof,

said spring being operative to urge said bell crank toward one of said positions thereof.

7. The agitator assembly as defined in claim 6 wherein .said torsion spring is coiled around said bell crank mounting pin.

8. An agitator assembly for a washing machine comprising,

a rotatable agitator shell,

an agitator vane movably mounted on said agitator shell,

a bell crank mounted for pivotal movement on said agitator shell and having a pair of legs extending in angularly spaced relation from the pivotal axis thereof with one of said legs operatively connected to said vane, and

adjustment means connected to the other of said legs controlling pivotal movement of said bell crank and corresponding movement of said vane.

9. The agitator assembly as defined in claim 8 and including guide means for guiding said vane for rectilinear radial movement only.

10. The agitator assembly as defined in claim 8 including a pin for mounting said bell crank for pivotal movement on an axis extending at right angles to the axis of said agitator shell.

11. The agitator assembly as defined in claim 10 wherein said adjustment means comprises an axially extending follower arm connected to said other of said legs, and means for controlling the axial disposition of said follower arm.

12. The agitator assembly as defined in claim 11 wherein said controlling means comprises axially adjustable stop mens for controlling the movement of said follower arm in one axial direction.

13. The agitator assembly as defined in claim 12 wherein said controlling means further comprises biasing means including a spring for biasing said follower arm in an opposite axial direction.

14. The agitator assembly as defined in claim 9 wherein said one of said legs is longer than the other of said legs to provide for greater movement of said vane for each increment of pivotal movement of said bell crank.

15. The agitator assembly as defined in claim 14 and including a cooperating slot and a follower pin movable in said slot formed on said vane and on said one of said legs to accommodate rectilinear movement of said vane in response to pivotal movement of said bell crank.

16. In a washing machine,

a drive shaft,

an agitator shell driven by said shaft,

a radially extendible vane engageable with said agitator, and

means for adjusting the radial extension of said extendible vane including,

an adjusting cap movable longitudinally relative to said agitator shell,

. 7 I 8 a follower arm having first and second ends, References Cited a bell crank pivotally mounted on said agitator shell 7 UNITED STATES PATENTS havng a g la z g 1,796,528 3/1931 Lyons 68-134 vane an a secon e connece 0 $211 secon en 2,130,542 9/1938 Giddings v of said follower arm, and 5 biasing means for biasing the first end of said follower FOREIGN PATENTS arm into continual engagement with said adjusting 1,035,614 4/1922 France. cap whereby the lon itudinal disposition of said adjusting cap establishez the amount of radial extension WILLIAM L PRICE Prlmary of said extendible vane. 10 IRVING BUNEVICH, Assistant Examiner 

